1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 (New International Version)

David Koresh claimed he was Jesus. Jim Jones claimed he was God. Mohammed claimed he was a prophet. Moon of the Moonies fame claims he is Jesus. These are for the most part the most famous and recent false prophets.

This verse is usually weighted with emphasis on prophets but the first part of the verse is significant. It is not only the "person" but the message or theology of the person that is problematic. The person who claims Jesus was just a man is as dangerous as the one who claims to be Jesus.

We are urged to test the spirits or to test the message of those who speak for God against the teachings of Jesus. There are many teaching new doctrines that sound good to the ear but vary from the teachings of Jesus.

The Bible is a very large book with many stories and accounts of events. It is filled with all manner of personalities both good bad and indifferent. Sometimes what you are reading is what a person is saying in response to a prophet. Sometimes a person is being quoted who is not a good person. What the Bible does is tell about Jesus and to tell the story of God’s relationships with man. The reader sees and hears the good of man and the evil of man. Any person is able to read a verse and develop an entire line of thought that is in conflict with the teachings of Jesus but sound perfectly perusable.

New teachings are nothing new and the history is filled with those who sought to fool people. We can give thanks to God for those who would not be swayed and stood on the foundation of God’s word. Let us endeavor to commit the word of God to our hearts that we can stand against false teachers and teachings.

Ronald Reagan once said, "We are only one generation away from the extinction of freedom." The same can be said of Christianity if we allow the false prophets and teachings destroy the church.